Abstract: Methods and systems for calibrating an instrument, such as a surgical instrument, within an imaging system are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a method includes capturing images of the instrument with a plurality of cameras of the imaging system and identifying common features of the instrument in the captured images. The method further includes generating a three-dimensional (3D) representation of the instrument based on the common features and determining a reference frame of the instrument based on the generated 3D representation of the instrument. A first transform is determined between the reference frame of the instrument and a reference frame of the cameras. Then, a second transform between the reference frame of the instrument and a reference frame of the tracking structure can be determined based on the first transform.

Abstract: A packed bed catalyst in a pressurized vessel/reactor during contact with a dioxide species precursor enhances catalytic conversion of the precursor to the dioxide species, compared with the same catalytic conversion performed in a non-pressurized vessel/reactor.

Abstract: Electroacoustic drivers that can be utilized in loudspeaker systems that utilize drivers having a magnetic negative spring (MNS) (such as reluctance assist drivers (RAD) and permanent magnet crown (PMC) drivers). The electroacoustic drivers can be used at all audio frequencies, including subwoofer frequencies. The magnetic negative springs of the electroacoustic drivers can cancel, or partially cancel, the large pressure forces on a sound panel (of an audio speaker) so that substantial subwoofer notes can be efficiently and cost effectively produced in small/portable speakers. The electroacoustic drivers can include a stabilizing/centering mechanism to overcome the destabilizing forces of a MNS that are too large for a voice coil alone to produce.

Abstract: A memory controller includes a transaction scheduler circuit and a command queue. For each access request received by the memory controller, the transaction scheduler circuit is configured to allocate a new entry in a scheduler queue, store an access address corresponding to the access request as a data address into the new entry, generate an error correction code (ECC) address from the data address and store the ECC address into the new entry, and set a corresponding ECC mode field in the new entry to indicate whether the data address or ECC address of the new entry is to be exposed during arbitration. The transaction scheduler circuit, during an arbitration cycle, is configured to select a transaction from the scheduler queue using an exposed address of each valid entry, and is configured to provide the selected transaction to the command queue.

Abstract: Drill strings and related ball dropping tools are provided. In accordance with an example, a ball dropping tool 102 includes an outer body 116, an inner body 126, a side bore 132, 133, a ball 112, 114, and an actuator 146. The outer body 116 has a first end 118, a second end 120, and an axial bore 122 extending between the first end 118 and the second end 120 and forming a flow path 123. The inner body 126 has a first end 128 and a second end 130 and forms a bypass passage 131 extending between the first end 128 and the second end 130 of the inner body 126. The side bore 132, 133 is defined by the inner body 126 and is disposed at an angle relative to the axial bore 122 of the outer body 116. The bypass passage 131 is disposed in a portion of the flow path 123 and is in communication with the side bore 132, 133. The ball 112, 114 is disposed within the side bore 132, 133. The actuator 146 is disposed within the outer body 116.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for an injection training model that includes a base structure, an anatomical subassembly mechanically secured to the base, and a ballistic gel structure. The anatomical subassembly includes a first set of 3D-printed components manufactured from a first material, and a second set of 3D-printed components manufactured from a second material, wherein the first material has a greater stiffness than the second material. The ballistic gel structure encapsulates the anatomical subassembly and is transparent, repairable, and inorganic.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming zig-zag folded logs of web material is provided. The apparatus and method allows for forming logs having different sheet lengths on a same machine. Logs of web material having weakened regions at different locations between folds in the zig-zag folded web are also provided.

Abstract: Example methods for multistage autonomous vehicle motion planning include obtaining sensor data descriptive of an environment of the autonomous vehicle; identifying one or more objects in the environment based on the sensor data; generating a plurality of candidate strategies, wherein each candidate strategy of the plurality of candidate strategies comprises a set of discrete decisions respecting the one or more objects, wherein generating the plurality of candidate strategies includes: determining that at least two strategies satisfy an equivalence criterion, such that the plurality of candidate strategies include at least one candidate strategy corresponding to an equivalence class representative of a plurality of different strategies that are based on different discrete decisions; determining candidate trajectories respectively for the plurality of candidate strategies; and initiating control of the autonomous vehicle based on a selected candidate trajectory.

Abstract: A fixed-geometry probe for exchanging microwave energy with a cavity resonator is easy to manufacture, reliable and readily adjustable external to the cavity to select a coupling coefficient. The probe includes a transmission line that enters, turns and exits the cavity resonator. A first end of the transmission line lies outside the cavity resonator for connection to a microwave circuit to exchange microwave energy. A portion of the transmission line's outer conductor(s) is removed within the cavity resonator to form a fixed-geometry radiating element to exchange microwave energy with the cavity resonator in accordance with the coupling coefficient. The line's outer conductor is connected to the cavity resonator on either side of the radiating element. A second end of the transmission line is terminated outside the cavity resonator with a terminating impedance creating a mismatch with the line's characteristic impedance to create a reflective stub.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a water drainage system comprising: a plurality of lengths of drain pipe comprising a channel and a vertical wall, wherein (i) the vertical wall comprises one or more standoffs extending horizontally from the vertical wall and (ii) wherein the drain pipe comprises a top edge and a bottom edge, each of the top and bottom edges being bifurcated by a v-shaped notch.

Abstract: Electroacoustic drivers that can be utilized in loudspeaker systems that utilize drivers having a magnetic negative spring (MNS) (such as reluctance assist drivers (RAD) and permanent magnet crown (PMC) drivers). The electroacoustic drivers can be used at all audio frequencies, including subwoofer frequencies. The magnetic negative springs of the electroacoustic drivers can cancel, or partially cancel, the large pressure forces on a sound panel (of an audio speaker) so that substantial subwoofer notes can be efficiently and cost effectively produced in small/portable speakers. The electroacoustic drivers can include a stabilizing/centering mechanism to overcome the destabilizing forces of a MNS that are too large for a voice coil alone to produce.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for training one or more cost functions of an autonomous vehicle (“AV”) control system based on difference between data generated using the AV control system and manual driving data. In many implementations, manual driving data captures action(s) of a vehicle controlled by a manual driver. Additionally or alternatively, multiple AV control systems can be evaluated by comparing deviations for each AV control system, where the deviations are determined using the same set of manual driving data.

Abstract: System and methods for increasing the engagement of a guest with experiences provided at a destination using an interactive gaming system controllably operating a multiplicity of game access points. Game access points scan an individual guest passing through a detection zone to determine the amount and use of themed products such as clothing being worn, or themed articles and devices being carried (where devices include active glasses for use in selectively revealing secret messages). Scanning comprises wireless electronic means such as RFID tags embedded in clothing, articles, and devices, and image processing of images. The combination of sensing methods confirms both presence and current used (e.g., currently “being worn or carried.”) Guest may pre-associate with “themed personas” where scanning is indicative of one or more personas and used to change the guest's destination experience accordingly. The system encourages the purchase and wearing of destination products as advantageous to gaming goals.

Abstract: The present application describes an integrated module. The integrated module includes a microcontroller, an inertial measurement unit (IMU), a low-power accelerometer, and an environmental sensor. A noise target between the IMU and low-power accelerometer is less than a noise target be the IMU and microcontroller. The present application also describes a method of using an integrated module.

Abstract: A series of substituted 4,4-difluorocyclohexyl derivatives as defined herein, being potent modulators of human IL-17 activity, are accordingly of benefit in the treatment and/or prevention of various human ailments, including inflammatory and autoimmune disorders.

Abstract: Determining an instantaneous vehicle characteristic (e.g., at least one yaw rate) of an additional vehicle that is in addition to a vehicle being autonomously controlled, and adapting autonomous control of the vehicle based on the determined instantaneous vehicle characteristic of the additional vehicle. For example, autonomous steering, acceleration, and/or deceleration of the vehicle can be adapted based on a determined instantaneous vehicle characteristic of the additional vehicle. In many implementations, the instantaneous vehicle characteristics of the additional vehicle are determined based on data from a phase coherent Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) component of the vehicle, such as a phase coherent LIDAR monopulse component and/or a frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) LIDAR component.

Abstract: Mediated-reality imaging systems, methods, and devices are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, an imaging system includes (i) a camera array configured to capture intraoperative image data of a surgical scene in substantially real-time and (ii) a processing device communicatively coupled to the camera array. The processing device can be configured to synthesize a three-dimensional (3D) image corresponding to a virtual perspective of the scene based on the intraoperative image data from the cameras. The imaging system is further configured to receive and/or store preoperative image data, such as medical scan data corresponding to a portion of a patient in the scene. The processing device can register the preoperative image data to the intraoperative image data, and overlay the registered preoperative image data over the corresponding portion of the 3D image of the scene to present a mediated-reality view.

Abstract: A method assigns weights to physical imager pixels in order to generate photorealistic images for virtual perspectives in real-time. The imagers are arranged in three-dimensional space such that they sparsely sample the light field within a scene of interest. This scene is defined by the overlapping fields of view of all the imagers or for subsets of imagers. The weights assigned to imager pixels are calculated based on the relative poses of the virtual perspective and physical imagers, properties of the scene geometry, and error associated with the measurement of geometry. This method is particularly useful for accurately rendering numerous synthesized perspectives within a digitized scene in real-time in order to create immersive, three-dimensional experiences for applications such as performing surgery, infrastructure inspection, or remote collaboration.

Abstract: The disclosure herein describes enabling a user of a remote mixed reality (MR) device to observe an environment of a local MR device combined with 3D surface reconstruction (SR) mesh data and live video data. Optical data of a surface of an environment is obtained and a 3D surface reconstruction mesh of the surface is generated from the obtained optical data using photogrammetry. The generated 3D surface reconstruction mesh is provided for display by a remote device. A live video feed of a window region of the environment is obtained and the live video feed of the window region is provided for display on the generated 3D surface reconstruction mesh by the remote device. Further, a remote user is enabled to provide feedback to a user of the local MR device, including audio feedback such as speech and virtual artifacts that are displayed to the local user.

Abstract: A compound of formula (I) as defined herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, being potent modulators of human TNF? activity, are accordingly of benefit in the treatment and/or prevention of various human ailments, including autoimmune and inflammatory disorders; neurological and neurodegenerative disorders; pain and nociceptive disorders; cardiovascular disorders; metabolic disorders; ocular disorders; and oncological disorders.